The sequel - Fab, Sparkly & often Moany 40 + : Preggie or New Mums - come say Hi!

[jeanjeannie]

We've now filled up the last thread - and the two before that! Seems that there are a lot of us old girls out there getting ourselves into trouble

So - if you've just found yourself to be with child or have a LO and you've hit (or about to hit - we'll let you sneak in just under the radar!)the big 4 0, then come say Hi!

There is always a spare comfy chair - plenty of cake and many old ladies to listen to your moans! Think of the lovely ladies knitting shreddies - only we're not sporting a blue rinse, but wearing cashmere and kitten heels

Hello regular ladies. I avoided putting FAT, F*cked or Knackered in the title - tempting as it was

I would think that it would be, do they do private nuchal scans, do you know?

Did you have one?

Ok important news...has anyone seen the divorcing couple who split after he was 'caught out' having online sex in 'second life'???? Well, he wouldn't get caught out in real life would he??? Jeez. What a catch. NOT.

Loving pissed up Leona Lewis. Oh! and the man having another baby just 4 months after giving birth! Not sure which bit is more disconcerting

My lunch date has a dicky tum so lunching out is rainchecked. Whoopee! Don't have to wash my hair and DH can admire my greasy bonce all day

I expect the Scottish Greggs shops deep-fry their sausage rolls as soon as they're out of the oven...

Lilibet, I can' believe that your health authority don't offer nuchal fold, amnio and cvs for free if you're 35+! Here in the midlands they're so keen on it it's rather irritating because I don't want the extra tests and have to fight them off. We should swap health authorities. But seriously, a consultant will be there at my first scan to do the nuchal test (which is just observation, so fine by me) as a matter of course, just because of my great age - no family history or other complications at all. I'd have Words if i were you...

jw just looked at your pics and can't believe what a teeny little dolly K was! she looks so hale and hearty now, chubby cheeks and all, you've done a grand job! Also love your media whore glasses - have just remembered that I can't bear to put in contacts for ages after birth - can't open my eyes enough ho ho - and so have many unpleasant post-natal pics of me with facial eczema and glasses. I wonder if I should put a new pair of specs on my Christmas list in preparation. Hmmm.

I'm steerig clear of pastry products today but had to buy the new Dairy Milk with cranberry and granola, just for scientific puposes, I know you'll all understand.

I have quite a lot of dealings with the Head of Maternity Services because of my job, so if all is well with the scan next week I will e mail her and ask her. Thanks.

That chocolate sound gorgeous, I may try one - just so that we can compare notes, you understand

lilibet not sure if they do private nuchals. Where is it located (ish)? No I didn't have a nuchal. Looked into it and even got as far as booking it but then decided against it in the end and take whatever I got.

ermintrude aye, K was a little scrap at birth - 1lb 8oz but she's guzzled her way to 10lb 6oz two days ago.

THAT chocolate is so lovely...I ate a whole bar. And I'm talking the huge ones . Felt very, very sick afterwards but I love granola and any dried fruit ...put it in chocolate and I've died and gone to heaven. Talking of choccy, ASDA have a ridiculous offer on at the moment; 2 x tins (large) of Quality Street for £7. Naturally I've eaten most of one of them by myself...and I'm even eating them before breakfast! Bugger. Bang goes the diet. Again.

Glad you like my media whore specs! I'm thinking of changing them at next eye test in March. Bit tricky though as I'd like little slitty lenses or even some upsweep retro ones but as they're vari-focal they have to be of a certain depth to squash both the lenses in....

granola and cranberry? why that sounds very healthy indeed - its practically a bowl of muesli

Gosh have we seen the DM before and after pics of Girls Aloud?a - what a bit of money and couple of years of starvation can do for one's appearance eh?

Am finally recovered and yay getting out of the house into town for the first time in a week - and Darragh slept last night from 1.30 'til 6.45!! woohoo! then he went straight back to sleep 'til 9.30 so guess who had a lie in? oh if only he would keep this up...

jw they do that special varifocal glass that means you don't need 2 separate bits for long/short sight. pricey but means you can have smaller specs. i'd like a bit of an upsweep meself.

round here, they do a nuchal scan as standard for over-35s. it's just a doc looking at the 12-weekish scan to see how much fluid there is at the back of the neck. if they tell me it looks normal, i'll be relieved; if they say it might not be, i'll say ok, ta for that, and no ta to other tests, because a 20-wk termination is out of the question for me so I'd rather avoid the slight m/c risk of invasive tests.

i still haven't told anyone - am dying to tell family but niece still ill so the timing is bad. and it doesn't feel right to tell friends when my own mum and sisters don't know. good job i can talk to you ladies about it otherwise i'd burst!

How many weeks are you Ermintrude?

in my area nuchals are not offered only the 16 week triple test. I mentioned the nuchal to my midwife and she said you have to do it yourself and you'd better hurry up as the private clinics are very busy and I have known women who have had to rush down to London to get theirs done within the window.

I'm 9 weeks today, lilibet. should get a scan appt between wks 11-13.

About three weeks ahead of me then. I'm waiting until after the tests before I tell anyone, which is probably going to mean lots of evasiveness about not drinking at Christams. Gp was offering me suggestions yesterday - tooth abcess, water infection etc!

Are you still being sick?

It's awful isn't it, the lying? Especially when one is known for liking a bevy (I don't mean me, of course . I've ended up avoiding a couple of situations where much wine would, in normal circs, be imbibed, by pretending my kids are ill. I must tell them to look iller or I'll be caught out.

A 'dodgy gut' is always a good one. People tend not to enquire further.

I am indeed still puking, although yesterday I threw up about 5 times all in all, but each time it was only - erm - a mouthful. (sorry if you're contemplating lunch). Even in the evening, when I usually empty my stomach at great force. I am still nauseous and don't feel any different so am wondering if the fact I had lots of small snacks was helping. For various reasons I didn't sit down and have tea/dinner yesterday, so I am trying to do the same today and see if it helps. It's either that or that Gregg's sausage roll has magical curative properties. Now that would be a result

I know I was offered 2 prices at the clinic I went to (they were private as they're not done on the NHS in my manor). One is for the scan and the pricier one is for the scan and the bloods. Also something 'extra' re the nasal bone? (I was told by the NHS sonographer when I had my 21 week scan that Downs don't have this bone).

ermintrude I was the same re testing and termination which is why ignorance was bliss for me. Although, my hospital said their policy was to inform of anomalies at the 20 week scan and to not have it if you didn't want to know (I did have this one btw). I just couldn't face the risk of MC either after already losing one.

lilibet I'm not sure what other tests I'll have done. I know they prefer the triple test here as there are tons of posters about it at the antenatal clinic.

I have the same attitude as ermintrude I think. I am not going to terminate, so I don't really see the point of having anything beyond the nuchal scan. My mother, BTW, who I told because she was all over me about it (its usually easier to give in with her) thinks I am mad to even consider not terminating a (her words, BTW) damaged baby. I was so offended, and told her so.

Off to make scrambled eggs and toast for lunch. It is nice being home sick! Wish the eggs could be runny.

I can't believe you have to pay for a nuchal scan. I've been offered every test going by the Whittington. I think it's shocking how these things differ across the country and I don't just mean ante-natal care, it happens with cancer drugs and drugs for MS and Parkinsons etc.

Will get off soapbox now...

Lovely pictures of your little lady in red JW, how brilliant that she's managing the whole day without the O2. Your house will seem huge when you lose all the medical paraphernalia

Pah to all this talk of chocolate. I've just eaten a healthy sandwich made with seedy bread and filled with chicken, avocado and alfalfa and radish sprouts. It was just the large quantity of mayo I added to it that may have cancelled out the healthy element

Glad so many of you so my lovely Jake on the box. Yes, I am very proud of him, he has become a lovely young man with a wicked sense of humour.

ladymac it's happening with the Synergis (bronchiolitis) jab that K has each month. It truly is a postcode lottery as it's £500 a shot and you need a course of 5. I've seen posts on Bliss website where babies are being hospitalised with bad chests as their PCT won't pay up.

Yep, losing the O2 tank is weird as I'm pretty much used to it by now. MW rang this morning to say she'd heard on the grapevine that I'd just gone for it by taking her off. She thinks twas a great idea so at least I have her blessing.

DD#1 has just rung and we're discussing having a big family portrait of all the children done. My older 3, DSS and of course K. She's given me the name of a studio in Bury town centre which looks good. Should be fun

Tee, only a mother could think it's ok to say such things to her pregnant daughter! Mine is becoming ever less tactful and sensitive the older she gets, and she didn't start very tactful and sensitive... hope you told her to button it.

Have just done a line of the cranberry and granola choc. Nice, but then anything smothered in Dairy Milk is going to be nice. To be honest, I'm slightly disappointed and don't think it beats Fruit and Nut.

ladymac, your sarnie sounds lovely. I could eat that AND the chocolate.

Okay, mean girls, talking about chocolate with cran and granola when I can't have any!

ermintrude totally only something a mother would say. My mom sounds a lot like yours. I basically said to her 'so if I have a 'damaged' baby, you won't love it?' She back peddled fairly quickly and sputtered about how she was just worried about me. You see, I have had mental health issues (still on a low dosage of mad meds, yes, even while PG) and she is afraid that it will be too much stress for me. Like any baby isn't going to be an issue with my history of depression, FFS!

tee i expect it is a case of you being your mum's baby whatever age you are and so she sees anything which might make your life difficult as Bad. I have a friend who is hyper-thyroid, needs regular meds, history of depression, completely hyper sort of person and she had a dd at 41 and a ds at 44 and is still hyper, hyper-thyroid and occasionally a little depressed, but she is also a very happy and capable mom of two lovely children. Mind you, she didn't let her dd out of her sight for the first 18 months, but is much more relaxed these days.

Oh all this talk of that 'healthy ' choccie bar....ermintrude stop it - I'm a choc-free zone today. Still it's SILs 30th tomorrow - so hopefully plenty of goodies then

ladymac you disappoint me - alfalfa and radish sprout....?! Rabbit food won't get you through pregnancy....Where's the cake ?!

JW Love sweeping upwards glasses ala 1950 American lady - sort of Gary Larson cartoon style! I think a pic of the kids will be a hoot. K does indeed look healthy - the architypical bonny baby - with the curl!

tee mothers can be so untactful. I'm lucky as mine is all sweetness and light - but her mother (my Nan) gawd - some of the things she'd say were unforgiveable. It's a wonder my Mum and her sister are as balanced as they are. tee it sounds like you cope admirably with her - well done you

Had Iris's friend over - they've been painting. I've only just got the paint off our white walls... It's just a little mark....but too low to hang a picture to cover it....whooops!

JJ hang a frame around it and call it art for the kids, just the right height so they can enjoy it!

LOL@ Far Side Lady specs! I must have a pair now!

Oh crikey...painted walls. It comes with the territory Wait until Verity is peeling the wallpaper. It start with a small patch you can hardly see and before you know it...half the wall is stripped!

Yes, K is indeed getting a pair of fat chops. My MW commented on her fat tum as well (with spindly legs dangling from it - built like her mum then). I'm finding the Rikki's aren't made for her shape - she's a pud without doubt. Think Rikki's are more your long and thin child

I didn't go anywhere at lunch to get chocolate (or cake ) but I have got my Christmas cards and I'm pleased with them out of all proportion . I'm very fussy about Christmas cards and I'm so thrilled with these.

They are like Rennie Mackintosh meets the nativity.

So that's a job for this weekend to everyone's delight. We all sign our names and then I put the address's (I've looked at that apostrophe for ages and I'm sure it's not right) on for my side and dh does it for his.

My mum is a sweetie but very much the product of a sheltered life. Up until recently we have had a very 'white' community where we live. In fact up until a couple of years ago and excluding medical staff I had only ever met one 'coloured' person. . We took her to a Christmas Eve service at our local Baptist Church and in the congregation was a black man. Cue stage whispers from my mum "Lilibet - that man is black" (isn't she good to know my mn name?), told her that I knew and told her his name and the names of his children. She waited until it was quiet again and then "He is really black isn't he?"

I will be interested to har her reaction to my news, she was an 'older' mum at 36, I was adopted after them trying for 14 years. She has always said that she was then a bit old to be a mum!!

afternoon all, cripes you have been busy this morning.
I have been very brave and have been to a baby/toddler group. It was actually very sweet and friendly, unlike the ones I tried when Ben was little.
aren't mothers funny things? (I just realized we are moms too). when I told her we were expecting again her immediate reaction was "How will you cope?" I must admit I thought we were doing a pretty good job with Ben!